Former Florida State QB E.J. Manuel impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl. / John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

INDIANAPOLIS - Deciding whether or not to throw or go through agility drills at the NFL scouting combine really wasn't much of an issue at all for Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel.

Of course he was going to throw. Of course he was going to run.

Those choices were only reinforced this week when prospects heard a speech from Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome. Newsome, a Hall of Fame tight end, told players that the combine provided the biggest and best stage on which to show off for prospective employers.

"I don't have anything to hide. It's a competition," Manuel said. "It's the best opportunity to come out and present your skills."

NFL coaches and executives already had a chance to watch Manuel up close at the Senior Bowl, where he exceeded expectations in practices and won the game's MVP award. That week in Mobile served as a significant confidence booster heading into the combine, where prospects are so easily compared on a level playing field.

"I definitely feel I'm the best quarterback in this class. I'm very confident in my abilities. No disrespect to anybody else. That's just the way I feel. All the guys probably feel the same way," Manuel said. "But I definitely feel I can be the best QB coming out of this week. That's why I was excited about the combine. It's another opportunity to present my skills to the world."

Manuel spent his college career playing in a pro-style system at Florida State but said the Seminoles would add an element of read-option from time to time - enough at least that he would be comfortable if he were to be drafted by a team who wanted a mobile quarterback.

"I don't think I have to be Colin Kaepernick. I don't have to be Russell Wilson. I can be E.J. Manuel. But I do see a lot of my abilities in those guys. When I saw those guys having success this year, it gave me a lot more confidence going into the draft," he said.

"Knowing that that kind of quarterback - a guy who can run and throw, not necessarily run first, but who can throw the ball and also have that run threat - it's more accepted now. Whereas five or 10 years ago, it really wasn't accepted. And you definitely didn't want to act like you run. You just wanted to sit in the pocket the whole time. Now, it's more embraced as a quarterback."